Wall construction



p 1941- D. DE F. CRANIDELL ETAL 2,257,712

WALL CONSTRUCT ION Filed Nov. 1, 1939 INVENTORS [DA-AN D. C/QANOELL JAME S; .1 RYAN ATTORNEYS Patented Sept. 30, 1941 WALL CONSTRUCTION Dean De Forest Crandell, Buflalo, and James J. Ryan, Kenmore, N. Y., asslgnors to National Gypsum Company, Buflalo, N. Y.

Application November 1, 1939, Serial No. 302,348

3 Claims.

This invention relates to building construction and particularly to an improved means and mode of constructing a metal-reenforced monolithic wall.

It has heretofore been proposed to form a partition wall by providing a metallic framework of studding and expanded metal lath or the like and applying plaster thereto. In the present invention improved means are provided whereby the metallic framework may be erected in situ and with great facility. To this end stud elements which in the preferred form are metallic and of channel cross section.

A stud element is designated 23 in the drawing and the studs are so proportioned with respect to channel member 20 that the web of the former may be arranged in the notches 2i with the flanges of the stud channel disposed against the outside of the flanges of the chanlongitudinally extending ceiling and floor members are provided which are adapted to receive and locate vertical metallic studs which in turn support expanses of metal lath to which plaster is applied to form a plaster partition wall which is solid and monolithic, save of course for the metallic framework contained therein.

While a preferred embodiment of our invention has been shown in the accompanying drawing and described in the ensuing specification, it is of course to be understood that a full range of equivalents is in contemplation and our invention is not limited save as defined in the appended claims.

In the drawing:

Fig. l is a vertical cross sectional view through a partition wall constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention; and

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view of the metallic framework assembled save for the expanded metal lath.

In the drawing like characters of reference denote like parts and the numeral I designates generally a longitudinally extending base member made up of spaced side pieces II and I2 connected by transverse straps I3 which occur intermittently along the length of the member. The straps l3 terminate at each side in flange portions l4 and I5 which may be secured to the side pieces II and I2 as by spot welding or the like. The upper edge of each of the side pieces II and I2 is turned inwardly and downwardly as at it, whereby the upper edge of each of the side pieces is smooth and somewhat rounded and whereby, also, a plaster engaging flange is provided.

A channel member 20 for engaging the lower ends of a plurality of studs is disposed medially of the side pieces II and I2 and may if desired be secured directly to the transverse straps l3 by spot welding or the like. The channel member is arranged with its flanges directed upwardly and pairs of transversely aligned notches 2| are formed in the flanges to receive and locate the nel member 20. To facilitate assembly the flanges of the channel member 20 are preferably bent somewhat inwardly toward each other as illustrated in the drawing.

The means for engaging and supporting the upper ends of the studs 23 is designated generally 25 and comprises a longitudinally extending element which has a securing flange 26, a depending intermediate web portion 21, and an oppositely bent stud-engaging flange 28 at the lower edge of the web portion 21. The securing flange 26 is provided with openings 29 for receiving nails or other securing elements and is usually fastened directly against the ceiling of the building wherein the partition is being erected. Openings 30 for reception of the upper ends of the studs 23 are formed in the stud-engaging flange 28 and spaced at the same pitch as the notches :3 which occur along the lower channel member In assembling the framework of a partition the upper and lower members 25 and Ill, respectively, are secured in their respective positions against the ceiling and the floor of the building structure and studs are disposed in position at the desired spacing by first inserting the upper end of each stud through an opening 3|] in the flange 29 of the upper member 25 with the stud slanted to clear the lower member In. The stud is then moved to a vertical position and the lower end is moved downwardly into engagement with the pair of notches 2| which is in vertical alignment with the opening 30.

With the thus assembled framework in position, expanded metal lath 32 is placed across the expanse which is to be partitioned and the lath may be secured to the studs by means of wire loops indicated at 33 in the drawing. In the preferred form an upper loop 34 is provided which engages through openings 35 formed in the vertical web 21 of the upper member 25 and serves the dual purpose of securing the upper edge of the metal lath and of securing the associated stud 23 against vertical displacement during completion of the partition wall.

The construction of the partition is then com- Pleted by applying plaster to both sides of the expanded metal lath 32 and preferably to a thickness which will bring the finished surface or the between, said upper horizontal element compris- "ing a vertical web portion and upper and lower oppositely extending horizontal flanges, said upper flange being adapted to be secured to a celling and said lower flange having spaced openings therethrough adjacent the lower terminal edge of said vertical web portion for receiving the upper ends of said studs for securement directly against said vertical web portion, said lower horizontal element comprising a channel member having its flanges directed upwardly and having pairs of transversely'aligned notches in its opposite flanges in vertical alignment with the spaced openings of the lower flange of said upper member, said studs being of channel formation and of such length that the webs thereof may be inserted in said notches after the upper end of the stud has been assembled withthe upper horizontal element with the flanges of the studs disposed outside of but adjacent the flanges of the channel member to locate said studs against horizontal displacement, a body of plaster interposed between said ceiling and the upper ends of said studs, {and plaster-receiving lath means secured to said studs and a coating of plaster on each side of said lath means.

2. A framework for a solid partition wall comprising upper and lower supporting elements and a plurality of spaced metallic studs extending therebetween, said upper element comprising a web portion and upper and lower oppositely ex tending substantially horizontal flanges, said upper flange being adapted to be secured to a celling and said lower flange having spaced openings therethrough for receiving the upper ends of said studs, said element being substantiallyopen on one side to permit introduction of plaster above and in contact with the upper ends of said studs, said lower element comprising means for receiving the lower ends of said studs to position the same against horizontal displacement, said studs being of such length that the lower ends thereof may be assembled with said receiving means after the upper ends of the studs have been assembled with the upper horizontal element.

3. A partition wall comprising a plurality of spaced studs, restraining elements cooperating 0 with the upperand lower ends of said studs, the

DEAN DE FOREST CRANDELL. JA1VIES J. RYAN. 

